Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer

1w1 week ago

Apex - Spacecraft Manufacturing

Los Angeles, US · Full-time · $165,000 – $195,000

About this role

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and launch costs decrease, demand surges for commercial satellite buses that hold customer payloads. Apex manufactures these buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and manufacturing-optimized hardware.

Our spacecraft enable earth observation, communications, and more, providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet. Apex seeks a seasoned Electric Propulsion Engineer to drive propulsion system development for our spacecraft bus. You will approach this from clean-sheet design, guiding architecture, integration, and testing.

Responsibilities include designing electric propulsion architecture, defining placement and integration, and developing specifications with power and mass budgets. You will document work instructions, AI&T procedures, establish degradation models, and design high-pressure fluidic systems with components like tanks and valves.

Expect collaboration with cross-functional teams on subsystem integration, troubleshooting manufacturing anomalies, and managing suppliers. Support qualification tests including vibration, shock, and TVAC, while ensuring compliance to propulsion budgets and range safety requirements.

Join our closely integrated team to contribute to proposals and business development, interfacing with customers and suppliers for spacecraft that shape society's future.

Requirements

U.S. Person status required to access export controlled data
Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electric propulsion, or other aerospace-related engineering discipline
6+ years of propulsion design and test experience
Experience with handling and testing pressurized systems
Strong knowledge of propulsion, spacecraft systems, and range safety (SSCMAN 91-710) requirements
Ability to decompose supplier ICDs and communicate requirements to engineering disciplines

Responsibilities

Design electric propulsion system architecture, develop product specifications, and maintain Technical Performance Metrics including power and mass budgets
Define placement and integration of electric propulsion system architecture
Document and maintain detailed work instructions, process flow diagrams, and AI&T procedures for manufacturing operations
Establish engine degradation model, perform filtration analysis, and demonstrate compliance to propulsion budgets (leak, power, thermal)
Design high pressure fluidic systems, fluid system instrumentation, and control components (tanks, regulators, pressure transducers, thermocouples, solenoid valves)
Develop qualification and acceptance test plans and support tests including vibration, shock, and TVAC
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate propulsion with electrical, thermal, and structural subsystems
Troubleshoot manufacturing anomalies, lead investigations, and ensure design for manufacturability